Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
Painted Lady Butterfly with Torn Wing

I shot this picture of a Painted Lady 10/8/2023 on a Sunday sunny autumn afternoon in our backyard garden. In spite of having a torn wing it didn't seem hampered from flitting around and tending to business while pollinating the Zinnias. I learned when reading about Painted Lady Butterflies that "they can fly at speeds close to 30 miles per hour and cover up to 100 miles in a day."

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2023
Date Uploaded: 10.2023
Photo Location: Ellsworth, Wi, United States of America
Camera: COOLPIX P1000
Copyright: © Andrea Petersen